This mid-construction picture shows how we remove grass first and temporarily mulch over it while we wait for deliveries. This owner elected to purchase a bench as a human focal point and to give purpose to the yard as it temporarily loses its vegetation.Until native plants are established, they do need watering. In this project, we have run trickle hoses from a timer on an exterior spigot. This assures that the project sets in place without the landlord or renters having to water. The lawn is partially intact in this photograph, but will be removed soon after.
These drift markers use garden staples and mason’s twine to indicate where recently arrived plants should go. Marking drifts helps manage scattered delivery dates over a lawn replacement, where we have to plant some deliveries before the buffers, borders and ground cover have arrived. We leave the markers in place until the project is fully planted. They serve as reminders of which areas we’ve already planted and will help subsequent deliveries be planted with less measuring. CC BY-SA 4.0 Massachusetts Urban Conservancy.
Simple yardsticks make easy-to-use planting spacers to achieve the desired density for a lawn replacement. Making these can be a hands-on learning experience combining science and basic wood shop skills depending on age. We use these as “not to exceed” distances; plants must be no further apart than the spacer or we’ll create an opportunity for weeds to grow.
